A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) describes hazardous properties of a chemical substance or mixture, as well as recommended measures for safe handling, storage, disposal, and emergency response.

Previously, such documents were known as MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), but the term SDS is now officially used under EU regulations.

SDS documents must comply with REACH and CLP regulations and include at least 16 mandatory sections (e.g. identification, hazard classification, protective measures, transport, toxicology).

It is also required that SDSs be made available to users of the chemical, free of charge, in either electronic or printed form.

The construction industry uses many chemical products — paints, solvents, adhesives, cleaners, and more — some of which carry health or environmental risks.
Proper SDS documentation is essential both for worker safety and for regulatory compliance in HSE (health, safety, environment).

Employers are legally required to maintain a chemical register (stoffkartotek), which must include SDS documents and relevant safety information.

Additionally, SDSs are often part of obligations related to:

• assessment of health and environmentally hazardous substances
• substitution requirements (replacing hazardous materials when possible)
• compliance with product regulations and linking to EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data

Substitution means replacing hazardous chemicals or products with alternatives that pose a lower risk to health and the environment. In the construction industry, this is a legal obligation whenever safer alternatives are available. Employers must assess the potential for substitution as part of the risk assessment process and document their decisions in the chemical inventory. This helps create a safer work environment, reduces exposure to hazardous substances, and supports the company’s sustainability goals.

Digital tools like Cobuilder make it easier to identify and register safer alternatives using structured and up-to-date product data.

In construction projects with many parties and many chemical products, managing SDSs becomes complex. Cobuilder offers digital tools that make SDS handling simpler, safer, and fully audit ready.

1. Share and update SDSs with Cobuilder Collaborate

Cobuilder Collaborate aggregates all SDSs into a centralized digital chemical register.
All project stakeholders — contractors, suppliers, HSE managers, owners — gain access to the latest SDS documents as needed.
Automatic updates ensure no one uses obsolete versions, reducing risk and manual oversight.
This enables seamless data flow and consistent SDS information across projects and organizations.

2. Maintain high-quality product data with Cobuilder Supply

Through Cobuilder Supply, manufacturers and suppliers can upload and maintain their SDSs in a structured and standardized format.
This ensures that SDS data is always current, accurate, and readily consumable by downstream users — from projects to HSE systems.
It aligns the entire supply chain on a common information baseline.

3. Traceability and audit-ready documentation

All SDS documents and product data are version-controlled, timestamped, and linked to the responsible entity.
You can always trace who submitted which SDS, when, and which version is valid — enabling you to demonstrate compliance during audits or inspections.

4. A data-driven foundation for HSE and risk management

When SDS data is digitized, structured, and centralized, companies can connect it to risk assessments, required personal protective equipment, mitigation measures, and training.
SDS becomes not just a compliance document but an active tool for safety, quality, and control across the project lifecycle.

• Ensure you have SDSs for all relevant chemical products used, produced, or imported.
• Verify that SDSs are up-to-date, in the local language, and compliant with applicable regulations.
• Consider digitizing your SDS handling to improve control, reduce risk, and increase operational efficiency.